Machine for reducing wheat and analogous grain



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. R. WILGOX & s. L. PHILLIPS. MACHINE FOR REDUGING WHEAT AND ANALOGOUS GRAIN.

No. 359,587. Patented Mar. 15, 1887.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2. L. PHILLIPS.

(No Model.)

R. WILGOX & S. MACHINE FOR REDUCING WHEAT AND 'ANALOGOUS GRAIN. No; 359,587.. Patented Mar. 15, 1887.

W W/A/ g, UNITED IATES.

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MACHINE FOR REDUCING WHEAT AND ANALOGOUS GRAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,587, dated March 15, 1887.

Applicaiioii filed April 10, 1886. Serial No. 198,448. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, RANSFORD WILooX and SAMUEL L. PHIL-LIPS, of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee, and in the State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Reducing thereby not only effectingasaving in time and material, but also aiding to secure a purer grade of the ground product than has heretofore been accomplished, as willbe hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in Which- Figure 1 represents an elevation of our invention; Fig. 2, a diagram in cross-section of the dislcfaces; Fig. 3, a plan view of the lower disk-face; Fig. 4, a similar view of the upperdisk; Fig.5, an enlarged detail plan view ofthe feed-regulator; Figs. 6, 7, and 8, diagram-sections, respectively, taken on lines o e, w w, and w m, Fig. 3; Fig. 9 represents a vertical transverse'section ofour machine; Fig. 10, a detail view of the key mechanism for fastening the disks to their spindles; Fig. 11, a horizontal cross-section on line y 3 Figs. 1 and 9; Fig. 12, a detail view of a worm-gear for securing the vertical adjustment of the bottom disk; Fig. 13, a plan view of the bottom pulley that is keyed on the spindle of the upper disk; Fig. 14, a similar view showing the relative arrangement of the adj usting-blocks in the eye of the lower disk, and adjacent to the spindle of the upper disk and Fig. 15, an enlarged perspective view of the feed-regulator.

Referring by letter to the drawings, A represents the standards, and B B the bridgepieces that form the supporting-frame of our machine. Bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the upper flanged ends of the standards A is a horizontal table, 0, that has a central depending hub, G. Detaehably connected to the table G is a sectional casing, D, and to the top of this casing is bolted the horizontal flange 0.

Ma hopper, E.

The casing D ineloses two parallel disks, F

G, that are respectively keyed to the vertical spindles H I. The spindle I for the lower disk, G, is entirely hollow, while the spindle H of the upper disk is solid throughout the greater portion of its length and partially inclosed by the hollow spindle I. The disk-spindles have preferably keyed thereto horizontal pulleys K L, and these are differentially rotated in the same direction by belt-connection with other pulleys on a driving-shaft, (not shown,) thus imparting a similar rotation to the disks, the upper one, F, of the latter being driven at a much higher rate of speed than the lower one, G, and both of said disks having their movementfromright to left. I

The disks F Gare preferably provided with detachable chill-cast faces M N, that are securedin position by any suitable means,those shown consisting of annular ribs b,that fit corresponding grooves, c, in the main portions of the disks,and countersunk screws d, that serve to bind the parts firmly together. The diskfaces, being removable, are readily replaced should they become worn or fractured. The upper-disk face has its bosom e hollowed out to allow for the feed of the grain from the hopper E, that is bolted to the casing D and provided with a downward extension, designed to fit within the bored-out enlarged upper portion, 9, of the spindle H, said enlarged portion of this spindle having passages h,thi*e'iag-l 1 which the grain finds its way to the bOSOlll il; 8 5

of the lower-disk face.

Toprevent the grain from clogging in its descent from the hopper and at the same time insure an equal distribution through the spintile-passages h, we employ a casting consisting of a hollow central stem, 70, and wings m, the upper ends, on, of the latter being turned down at right angles to a vertical, and the lower ends, m", slightly flared out from such a line, this construction being illustrated in detail, Fig.5. This casting we insert within the boredout portion g of the spindle H, the right-angular portions in of the wings being interposed between the casing D and hopper-flange a, two of the bolts that serve to unite these latter parts acting to secure said casting in a stationary position. The casting being stationary while the spindle revolves, the descending grain is kept agitated and directed toward the passages in said spindle.

The skirts of the disk-faces M. N are formed of a series of tangential furrows, a n, that are narrow and concave at the peripheries of the respective bosoms e i, and graduallyincrease in width, while at the same time they decrease in concavity until, as the circumferences of said faces are approached, each furrow assumes the form of an inclined plane, this construction being best illustrated by the diagram views, Figs. 6, 7, and 8. The furrows of each disk-face are intended to be thoroughly smooth and highly polished. The greater degree to which this smoothness and polish is attained the better the result desired to be accomplished by our machine.

The above-described construction of the furrows in the disk-faces facilitates the feed of the grain from the bosoms toward the outer circumferences of the skirts, and prevents the kernels from being split prior to reaching the inclined planes, the latter being most clearly shown by Fig. 8. The disks being rotated in the same direction at differential speeds, the grain by centrifugal force travels in the furrows of the faces M N toward the cireumfen ences, and is rolled from one to the other on the smooth and polished surfaces, thereby preventing the making of flour, there being no perceptible attrition. As the grain approaches the circumferences of the furrowed faces the kernels are severally caught between the opposing inclined planes at the outer termini of the furrows and continue to be rolled along, as before described. The upper disk, F, being rotated at a greater speed than the lower one, G, the lowest points of the inclined planes on the diskface M at the outer termini of its furrows a will successively approach and pass the highest points of the similarlylocated planes on the disk-face N, thereby gradually contracting the intermediate spaces between these opposing inclined planes. This approach of the opposing inclined faces toward each other acts to exert a gradual pressure on the grain-kernels, and thus cause them to split apart at their seams without being crushed, the comparative slow rotation of the lower disk, G, serving to cushion the stroke or pressure of the upper one, F, and thereby assist in accomplishing the desired result. The split kernels fall upon the table (J, between the rotating disks F G and easing D, and are finally discharged through a spout, 0, into a suitable receptacle.

Upon the outer or hollow spindle, I, and located between the upper Dridgepiece, B, and depending hub G of the table 0, is an internally-beveled collar, 1?, that is designed to be secured in place by a circular key, P, encircling the spindle and driven down between the latter and the beveled interior face of said collar. Fitted in a central screw-threaded aperture, 0, in the bridge-piece Bis a correspondingly-formed hub, Q, of a worm-wheel, Q, the latter being arranged to mesh with a worm-shaft, R, that has its bearings in the standards A, and is provided with a handwheel, R. The collar P bears against the worm-wheel Q, and when the latter is operated upon by the worm-shaft R the outer or hollow spindle is raised or lowered to verticall y adjust the lower disk, G, thereby increasing or diminishing the space between the latter and the upper disk, F, according to the size of grain to be reduced.

If found desirable, the grain, after having been split, as above described, may be again passed through the machine and further disintegrated, the proper vertical adjustment of the lower disk being effected to accomplish such operation. The upperends ofboth spindles H I have their interiors and exteriors beveled, and are rigidly secured to the respective disks F G by hollow conical keys S, the latter being driven downward and acting to expand these upper spindle ends in the eyes of their relative disks, this construction being illus trated in detail, Fig. 10 showing the parts detached.

The eye of the disk G is downwardly extended and forms the bore of 21 depending hub, G, said extension of this eye being somewhat reduced in diameter. The upper or keyed end of the hollow spindle I fits within the extension of the lower-disk eye, and terminates immediately below a shoulder, 12, formed by the enlarged upper portion of the solid spindle H. The depending hub G of the lower disk, G, comes within the similar part, 0, of the table 0, but is of less diameter than the latter. Located in the space between the depending hubs O G are truing-blocks T for the spindle I, said blocks being supported by an inwardprojecting flange, 1', at the lower end of the table-hub. These truing-blocks T are acted upon by set-bolts s, which operate in screwthreaded apertures in the depending hub Got" the table 0, and by relatively loosening and tightening said blocks the upper end of the outer spindle can be readily adjusted to run true. The lower end of this outer spindle is trued by means of wedge-blocks U U, located in the pulley K, the blocks U being provided with bolt-extensions t, that pass through suitable apertures in the bottom of said pulley to receive regulating-nuts t. The upper or enlarged end of the inner spindle is trued by a series of blocks, V, located in the space between said spindle and the circumference of thelower-disk eye. These blocksareacted upon by serew-rods V, that are operative in radial seats bored in the lowerdislgG, the periphery of the latter being recessed to receive the heads of these rods, and therebyprevent them from projecting out in the space between this disk and the casing D, and the latter part is provided with an opening or openings, (1, for the introduction of a socket-wrench to operate said screw-rods. The lower end of the spindle H is trued in a manner similar to the upper end thereof, the means consisting of blocks W, that fit recesses in a central bearing,.13, of the bridge-piece B,and set-bolts W, operative in screw-threaded radial seats bored in said bearing. Below the bridge-piece B the spindle His fitted with a collar, H, that serves to prevent upward movement of said spindle when the machine is in operation. i

The upper face of the worm-wheel Q is recessed,and has inserted therein a series of friction-cones that form the bearing for the collar P,keyed to the spindle I. V The central bearing, B of the bridge-piece B is also recessed and provided with a series of cones, on which latter the depending hub K of the pulley K travels, this arrangement of parts also acting as a stop to prevent downward movement of the spindle H. The collar H is similarly constructed to receive a series of friction-cones that are interposed against the lower face of the bridge-piece B.

Extending from an oil-cnp,X,located above the hopper E is a distributing-tube, a, that extends down through the center of said hopper and the stem is of the feed-regulator to enter a port, y, in the spindle II. From this port the oil finds its way down the full length of thesolid spindle,lubricatingin its passage the several bearings for said spindle and the friction-cones located in the parts B" and collar H, the drip being caught by a shell, B bolted to the under face of the bridge-piece B.

An oil-cup,Y,is located outside the machine, adjacent to the table 0. A distributing'tnbaz, leads from said cup through the depending table-hub O and terminates against the lowerdisk hub G. The lubricant from the cup Y passes down the disk-hub G and drips into the upper recessed portion of the collar 1?. From this pointjt finds its way down through ports I) in said collar to lubricate the frictioncones in the worm-wheel Q, and the bearingsurfaces of the hub Q and outer spindle, I. The lubricant now passes down the periphery of the spindle I and finds its way into the upper hollow portion of the pulley L, this latter being usually filled with waste to absorb said lubricant. The excess of the lubricant not retained by the waste passes through ports a in the pulley L, descends upon the wedgeblocks U U, and finally escapes down the spindle H to the shell B I Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is i v 1. In a machine for reducing wheat and analogous grain,the combination of two opposing disks having their faces provided with a series of tangential furrows that are narrow and concave at their inner extremities and gradually increase in width and decrease in concavity toward their outer termini, where they assume the form of inclined planes, substantially as set forth.

2. In a machine for reducing wheat and analogous grain, two parallel disks having their opposing faces provided with a suitable dress, the spindle of the upper disk being solid and having a bored-out upper end protially rotating vided with delivery-passages for the grain, and the spindle of the lower disk made hollow to surround the solid one, in combination withsuitable pulleys keyed to the respective spindles to be diflerentially rotated in the same direction, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a machine for reducing wheat and analogous grain, two parallel disks the opposing faces-of which have a suitable dress, the spindle of the upper disk being solid and having a bored-out upper end that is beveled upon its interior and exterior, and provided with delivery-passages for the grain, and the spindle of the lower disk made hollow to surround the solid one, and also interiorly and exteriorly beveled at its upper end, in combination with conical keys driven down inside the upper ends of the spindles, and means for imparting a differential rotation to said spindles in the-same direction, as and for the purpose set forth. v

4. In a machine for reducing wheat and analogous grain, two parallel disks the opposing faces of which have a suitable dress, a solid spindle for the upper disk, that is bored out at its upper end and provided with deliverypassages for the grain, and a hollow spindle that surrounds the solid one and is keyed to the lower disk, and a suitable supportingframe, in combination with a truing mechanism for the latter spindle, that comprises a series of suitable blocks located between said spindle and the circumference of the lowerdisk eye, corresponding radial screw-rods extended through the latter disk and arranged to bear on said blocks, similar blocks fitting recesses in the lower bridge-piece of the supporting-frame, and radial set-bolts operative in said bridge-piece, and means for differensaid spindles in the same direction, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a machine for reducing wheat and analogous grain, a supporting-frame, two parallel disks the opposing faces of which are provided with a suitable dress, asolid spindle for the upper disk, that is bored out at its upper end and provided with delivery-passages for the grain, a hollow spindle for the lower disk that surrounds the solid one, in combination with a truing mechanism for the former spindle, that comprises a series of suitable blocks located in a space between a depending hub of this spindle and a similar adjacent hub on the frame, a corresponding series of setbolts operative in apertures in the latter huh, and wedge-blocks located in a pulley on said spindle, and means for differentially rotating the spindles in the same direction, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In amachine for reducing wheat and analogous grain, a suitable supporting-frame and two parallel disks the opposing faces of which ,are provided with a suitable dress, a solid spindie for the upper disk, that is bored out at its upper end and provided with delivery-passages for the grain, a hollow spindle for the lower disk that surrounds the solid one, and a collar keyed to the latter spindle, in combination with a worm-wheel provided with a depending screw-threaded hub operative in the upper bridge-piece of the frame and arranged to bear against said collar, a transverse wormshaft having its bearings in the frame-standards and arranged to mesh with said wormwheel, and means for differentially rotating the spindles in the same direction, as and for the purpose set forth.

7 In a machine for reducing wheat and analogous grain, two parallel disks the opposing faces of which are provided with a suitable dress, a solid spindle for the upper disk, that is bored out at its upper end and provided with delivery-passages for the grain,and a hollow spindle for the lower disk that surrounds the solid one, in combination with a feed-regulator arranged to extend down into the boredout extremity of said upper-disk spindle, and consisting of a central hollow stem provided with wings that have their upper ends turned down at right angles to a vertical, and their lower ends flared out from such a line, and means for differentially rotating said spindles in the same direction, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a machine for reducing wheat and analogous grain, two parallel disks the opposing faces of which are provided with a suitable dress, the upper diskspindle being pro vided with a hollow upper extremity that has deli very-passa ges for the grain,and an oil-port leading to the exterior of said spindle, and the lower disk having a hollow spindle that surrounds the solid one, in combination with means for differentially rotating said spindles in the same direction, and an oil-cup provided with a tube leading therefrom to the port in said solid spindle, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a machine for reducing wheat and analogous grain,a horizontal table secured to a supportingframe and having a depending hub, two parallel disks having their opposing faces provided with a suitable dress, the spindles of said disks being arranged one within the other, and the lower spindle provided with a depending hub arranged within the one depending from said table, in combination with means for differentially rotating the spindles in the same direction, and an oil-cup located adjacent to said table and provided with a distributing-tube leading therefrom to the hub of said spindle, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our hands, at Milwaukee,in the county of Milwaukee and State of W'is cousin, in the presence of two witnesses.

RANSFORD WVILGOX. SAMUEL IJ- PHILLIPS.

Vii n esses:

H. G. Unnnnwoon, N. E. OLIPHANT. 

